Archive for LA

The 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show started on November 22 and will end on December 1, with a total of 56 production models having their world premi√®re there, along with several concept cars. There are many highlights from the show that are worth mentioning, including some luxury SUVs, such as the Porsche Macan, high-performance sports cars, such as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but some alternative fuel vehicles, as well, such as the Hyundai Tucson FCEV.

Porsche showed off the 2014 Macan, their compact crossover SUV, that should go into production by the end of this year. The company decided to name it Macan, which is the Indonesian word for tiger, although it originally planned to name it Cajun. It comes with a 3.0-liter, V6 engine, delivering 340 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Even though details on its performance haven’t been released, you should expect a top speed of over 150 mph, and a 0 to 60 mph time of about 5 seconds.

Land Rover unveiled its incredibly luxury, incredibly expensive Range Rover Autobiography Black. It will only be offered in the U.S. market, and the company will only build 100 units, making it a pretty exclusive item to own. It comes with 18-way power-adjustable front seats, and climate and massage control for all seats. The seats are covered in high-quality leather, there is a panoramic sunroof, LED mood lamps, and 10-inch screens keeping the rear seat passengers entertained. All this luxury comes with a $185,000 pricetag.

South Korean car maker Hyundai was very busy at this year’s show, presenting a couple of models, including the Elantra, the Tucson FCEV, and the Genesis. The Genesis is a car that is targeted to the high-end consumer, but at a significantly lower price than the average luxury car. Its starting price is set at $35,200, which is pretty reasonable, considering the amenities and luxury features it has. It’s powered by a 3.8-liter, V6 engine, and delivers a 27-mpg fuel economy. It has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, as well as a leather-wrapped shift knob, heated seats, a 7-inch touch screen navigation with DVD and text-to-speech feature, along with a Bluetooth hands-free phone system.

Another highlight of the show was the Maserati Ghibli, a full-size sedan, with a stylish, luxury interior, featuring leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, and keyless entry. The company has set an annual production target of 50,000 units, and each of them will be available for $65,000.

Lastly, there was the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo Concept, a car that definitely stole the show. It’s a concept with an amazing design, featuring a raked roofline, a pretty long, wide hood, a sharp, aggressive rear end, and a front grille that is covered with LED lights. Its body is made of carbon fiber, with an aluminum chassis, and extra large wheels. Obviously, there are the gull-wing doors, a feature typical of many sports cars made by Mercedes, and a rear spoiler that raises and lowers automatically.

Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and ‚Äúcar tech‚ÄĚ specialist. He is a writer for a collaborative community designed to help ease the stress and annoyance of ‚Äúdealing with the DMV‚ÄĚ.